Niners Fan in CT Posted May 3 Posted May 3 1 minute ago, AxB said: Very few wrestlers these day incorporate the struggle and storytelling into their matches, eh? How interesting. Name 5 currently active wrestlers who don't do that. Give examples of how they don't do that, and where they should. This could be very enlightening. Watch any John Cena matches lately? Move, move, move.... finisher, kickout. finisher. Kickout. Wait for interference.
Technico Support Posted May 3 Posted May 3 4 minutes ago, AxB said: Very few wrestlers these day incorporate the struggle and storytelling into their matches, eh? How interesting. Name 5 currently active wrestlers who don't do that. Give examples of how they don't do that, and where they should. This could be very enlightening. tEH yOuNg BuCkS says 79.2% of this board 3
Technico Support Posted May 3 Posted May 3 4 minutes ago, Niners Fan in CT said: Watch any John Cena matches lately? Move, move, move.... finisher, kickout. finisher. Kickout. Wait for interference. Maybe the problem isn’t modern wrestlers not showing struggle enough. Maybe the problem is WWE style. 2 2
AxB Posted May 3 Posted May 3 7 minutes ago, Niners Fan in CT said: Watch any John Cena matches lately? Move, move, move.... finisher, kickout. finisher. Kickout. Wait for interference. OK, so there's one. Four to go!
Niners Fan in CT Posted May 3 Posted May 3 2 minutes ago, Technico Support said: Maybe the problem isn’t modern wrestlers not showing struggle enough. Maybe the problem is WWE style. I agree with "WWE style" being more "big picture" and less about the details in the ring but I do think Mercedes was able to break through that on occasion, even a match like when she fought Ronda Rousey or the WrestleMania main event vs. Bianca Belair. 1
Niners Fan in CT Posted May 3 Posted May 3 1 minute ago, AxB said: OK, so there's one. Four to go! If you had approached me with something more than a condescending tone I'd be happy to continue the conversation. 1 1
twiztor Posted May 3 Posted May 3 This month is starting off hot. Everybody take a step back and breathe. 6 1
AxB Posted May 3 Posted May 3 3 minutes ago, Technico Support said: Maybe the problem isn’t modern wrestlers not showing struggle enough. Maybe the problem is WWE style. It's one of the things I do find interesting. There's been a lot of people in the last few years leaving WWE and arriving in AEW, or vice versa, and the differing ways the two fanbases react that is quite intriguing. We've seen a lot of complaining in these threads about AEW coming to stand for All Ex WWE, and people getting frustrated at the AEW uppercard being overstuffed with WWE veterans who we've seen enough of. And in particular, if it's an ex-Main Event WWE guy. Like Swerve comes to AEW from WWE, and people who knew him as Strickland (or Killshot) before he was Isiah Scott get excited to see Swerve with the handbrake off. But Cope comes to AEW from WWE and it's like, we've seen everything you have to offer. We've seen you as a top heel, a top face, as a veteran making a comeback. He comes to AEW and does nothing different from his WWE routine, and there's a feeling that... we don't need to see this. Like, we've seen it already, and the fact that he's here doing this means there's an AEW original who isn't on the show. Cope was in the WWE system so long, and arrived in it so early in his career, I don't think he could ever have a match that didn't follow the WWE match formula. And people don't watch AEW to watch WWE match formula matches; If they wanted to see WWE-style matches, you watch WWE. But on the other side, when wrestlers jump from AEW to WWE, the audiences seem to uncritically love them. Whether it's a main eventer like Cody or CM Ponk, an upper midcarder like Ricky Starks/Saints, a career midcarder like Ethan Page or Shawn Spears/ Tye Dillinger, or a useless idiot like Pillman Jr/ Lexis King, the WWE fans are ecstatic to see them. Like every example of someone leaving AEW is an objectively brilliant wrestler who AEW fumbled. It's frankly bizarre. 6
Technico Support Posted May 3 Posted May 3 (edited) Tribalism in the WWE side, maybe? They just want to chant “Tony fumbled” while Pillman Jr. works Ethan Page like those two are ever going to set the world on fire. Same crowd that loves the Luchs Bros now after years of calling them flippy bullshit wrestlers. Edited May 3 by Technico Support 8
Just Adam Bay Bay Posted May 3 Posted May 3 1 minute ago, Technico Support said: Tribalism in the WWE side, maybe? They just want to chant “Tony fumbled” while Pillman Jr. works Ethan Page like those two are ever going to set the world on fire. Same crowd that loves the Luchs Bros now after years of calling them flippy bullshit wrestlers. Hell Tony has definitely done more with WWE afterthoughts than they have his. I get people will say look at Cody and Punk, but does WWE take Cody back without AEW? Swerve and Toni Storm are much bigger stars here, and despite his age Samoa Joe is presented much better here too. And honestly as a Christian fan I’d say his best solo runs were in TNA and now AEW. 6
Niners Fan in CT Posted May 3 Posted May 3 3 minutes ago, Technico Support said: Tribalism in the WWE side, maybe? They just want to chant “Tony fumbled” while Pillman Jr. works Ethan Page like those two are ever going to set the world on fire. Same crowd that loves the Luchs Bros now after years of calling them flippy bullshit wrestlers. There's still a lot of crossover obviously, myself included, who watch WWE and AEW but I do feel AEW fans are more appreciative of the details in the ring and less caring about some "moment" The Bloodline Saga had every WWE fan conditioned to have one eye on the entrance ramp. It was cool for the Roman story but now it's all anyone wants and it's not for me. 2
Johnny Sorrow Posted May 3 Posted May 3 42 minutes ago, Technico Support said: Tribalism in the WWE side, maybe? They just want to chant “Tony fumbled” while Pillman Jr. works Ethan Page like those two are ever going to set the world on fire. Same crowd that loves the Luchs Bros now after years of calling them flippy bullshit wrestlers. The NXT crowd and the fans at the main roster shows are two different animals. The NXT crowd is the Smarky terminally online fans. 2
Just Adam Bay Bay Posted May 3 Posted May 3 (edited) So with them running Philadelphia at the end of August/Early September any guess as to where All Out will be at? I’m hoping they go back to Wilkes-Barre again as they drew a hot crowd there last September and it’s not that far from Philadelphia. Plus WWE quit running that area so they’d sell out for a PPV. And obviously I want to attend one. Edited May 3 by Just Adam Bay Bay 1
HumanChessgame Posted May 4 Posted May 4 7 hours ago, Johnny Sorrow said: The NXT crowd and the fans at the main roster shows are two different animals. The NXT crowd is the Smarky terminally online fans. I'd almost liken them to the ECW arena fans back in the day on account of how for years NXT was taped at the same place every month and was basically a regional indy in terms of their live event schedule. It lead to a lot of the regulars being so keen to chant shit and feeling like a part of the show. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure that's a fun experience, but at the same time it lead to a fanbase that liked chanting shit for the sake of chanting shit. 1
username Posted May 4 Posted May 4 10 hours ago, Technico Support said: Tribalism in the WWE side, maybe? They just want to chant “Tony fumbled” while Pillman Jr. works Ethan Page like those two are ever going to set the world on fire. Same crowd that loves the Luchs Bros now after years of calling them flippy bullshit wrestlers. Bit of a digression but I do think Pillman Jr. is clearly working his butt off to get better and has improved and deserves a tip of the cap for that. I also remain unconvinced that his ceiling is all that high, but that's a separate discussion. 4
Go2Sleep Posted May 4 Posted May 4 If AEW could replace Marina Shafir with Shayna Baszler and gaslight the fans that she was always in the Death Riders, they could do a lot more with that role. AEW's women's roster is really deep now to the point where someone the caliber of Deonna Purrazzo has trouble getting on TV, but I think Dakota Kai and Kacy Catanzaro would be really good fits without needing to take over the division. Alternatively, merge the TBS/World title and bring on the women's tag titles. 7
Craig H Posted May 4 Posted May 4 Aged. Like. Milk. http://deathvalleydriver.com/forum/index.php?/topic/11303-aew-april-2025/page/4/#findComment-1426066 Quote You can see why, with what's happening with Giulia, Roxanne Perez, Stephanie Vaquer, Tiffany Stratton, Lyra Valkyria, etc., why WWE is the more attractive option right now. 1
Kevin Wilson Posted May 4 Posted May 4 The key to going to WWE right now (besides the 'I always wanted to be in WWE' crowd, that's hard to get around) is getting main roster money. Main roster pays pretty damn well so if a wrestler can take their AEW exposure and turn that into a main roster contract then you won't hear me say a word about it because I can't really blame them. Now if an AEW wrestler took that exposure and could only pull off a NXT contract (still pays well I am sure but not main-roster well) that's a little different. Its tough though for me to say "TK should take a look at Gigi" or "TK should take a look at Kai" as their roster is so deep as it is. They've been better about not signing as many just-fired WWE wrestlers the last few years and I assume that trend will continue. Wrestlers like Jade for example would jump back to WWE in a heartbeat, do you want to give her a three year AEW deal and push her, and as soon as she gets word WWE wants to re-sign her she wants to go? I just think TK has to be more cautious with wrestlers cut (Miro, Black, Andrade) vs. wrestlers that join by choice (Mox, Edge, Ricochet) in regards to what their long term goals are and if they are worth investing in. 2
Craig H Posted May 4 Posted May 4 That’s why I think Shayna and maybe Kai would be good signings. Shayna is at the end of her career but can still go and she’s way more credible than Marina. And if Kai went with her then she has at least two friends in AEW if she’s still friends with them. Kai is a seasoned veteran, but I think she might just get lost in the shuffle with some of the other women. She might get a shiny new toy program to start, lose to Statlander, and then make an appearance every so often like with Deonna. But out of everyone I’d sign Shayna mostly because for “shooters” on the roster, Marina sucks and I don’t think she’ll ever get it.
Kevin Wilson Posted May 4 Posted May 4 3 minutes ago, Craig H said: That’s why I think Shayna and maybe Kai would be good signings. Shayna is at the end of her career but can still go and she’s way more credible than Marina. And if Kai went with her then she has at least two friends in AEW if she’s still friends with them. Kai is a seasoned veteran, but I think she might just get lost in the shuffle with some of the other women. She might get a shiny new toy program to start, lose to Statlander, and then make an appearance every so often like with Deonna. But out of everyone I’d sign Shayna mostly because for “shooters” on the roster, Marina sucks and I don’t think she’ll ever get it. I like the idea mentioned of just switching Shayna and Marina, having it be one casual mention on commentary and from then on pretending like nothing changed. I mean they wouldn't do that but it would be funny and an instant upgrade. 2
HumanChessgame Posted May 5 Posted May 5 If they do bring Shayna in as a Marina replacement, just have Shayna come out, ether Marina, and just proclaim to the rest of the Deathriders that she works for them now. 5
zendragon Posted May 5 Posted May 5 Or just switch them out and have Claudio be like "you get a hair cut or something?" 1 2
Casey Posted May 5 Posted May 5 (edited) I honestly could see Priscilla Kelley having a career renaissance similar to Toni Storm if she's given a good chance in AEW. I mean, positioning her as like an Elvira type Hollywood character to Toni's classical 20s/30s starlet would be a fun little feud, I think. Her and Eleyna Black both had small cups of coffee in AEW (on Dark - but I think Priscilla was on Dynamite a few times). I could see them getting shots since they're available sooner than the others, besides Jakara Jackson. Priscilla, Eleyna & Dakota/Evie would be my priorities. Let's not forget they do have like three women's titles in ROH, too. I fully expect the Shotzi/Starkz match to happen this year under AEW. Edited May 5 by Casey 4
Iron Moose Posted May 5 Posted May 5 47 minutes ago, zendragon said: Or just switch them out and have Claudio be like "you get a hair cut or something?" ... and respond with a bald joke rather than engaging. 3
just drew Posted May 5 Posted May 5 1 hour ago, Casey said: I honestly could see Priscilla Kelley having a career renaissance similar to Toni Storm if she's given a good chance in AEW. I mean, positioning her as like an Elvira type Hollywood character to Toni's classical 20s/30s starlet would be a fun little feud, I think. Her and Eleyna Black both had small cups of coffee in AEW (on Dark - but I think Priscilla was on Dynamite a few times). I could see them getting shots since they're available sooner than the others, besides Jakara Jackson. Priscilla, Eleyna & Dakota/Evie would be my priorities. Let's not forget they do have like three women's titles in ROH, too. I fully expect the Shotzi/Starkz match to happen this year under AEW. Priscilla has a pretty dark past with Darby Allin, right? I could see that being an issue, but if it isn't I wholeheartedly agree. I also re-iterate what I said earlier; women's tag titles. Have them be true "World" Tag Titles where the champs defend them in TJPW, CMLL, ROH, wherever there are women's tag teams. Then you can reunite Tegan Nox and Dakota Kai and bring in the Chance & Carter. I think Kacy Catanzaro has something unique, with her size and athletic ability. I'm not smart enough to fully flesh out how you could incorporate what she brings to the table into a weekly wrestling character, but RJ City might be. OTOH, there's some dark history with her and Ricochet, so I don't know how that would work... 1
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